Everyone has free will to choose what she or he desires. Wellness is a natural state of being, and it is my first desire. I realized as a young wom(b)man that in order to be successful in any aspect of my life I must be physically healthy; it is something that my cells yearn for every moment of the day. This desire for wellness motivates me, and I believe it is the foundation for true wealth and joy.

In order to maintain wellness, there are a number of practices – physical and non-physical elements – that are available to us daily. There is an acronym that I read years ago (and I’m unsure of the source now) that represents what I believe to be fundamental to wellness: Health is W.E.A.L.T.H.S.  W.E.A.L.T.H.S. = Water, Exercise, Air (breath), Light (sun and chakras), Thoughts (empowering and positive), Healthy foods (raw), and Sleep.

In other words, if we take time to:

we will experience vitality and richness from the stream of well being, creating a magnet for success in all of our endeavors.

There is an abundance of wellness; however, the first step towards it, is the desire to have it. Unfortunately, we have to experience a lack of wellness or dis-ease in the body to make us aware of the delicate balance. Dis-ease is rooted in a lack of attention to and awareness about our thoughts and actions, leaving the body unable to properly cope with what’s happening in our lives.

The body is a great teacher, as it uses physical and emotional responses and reactions as lessons in well being. Dis-ease is direct communication from your body to you that something is out of order – serving to push you to be better and to create the desire for a greater level of wellness.

I also believe that we have the ability to heal ourselves through the power of self-discipline, self-control, and self-awareness, as dis-ease usually means that one or more of the requirements for optimum health (water, exercise, air, light, thoughts, healthy food, and sleep) are out of balance. If you relax within the body and ask it for wisdom, it will reveal the therapy needed to restore your health.

I will share in upcoming blog posts some of my experiences with self-healing and how to apply the laws of health to your own daily life, exploring the true meaning of wealth. My how-tos will outline effective ways to make healthy habits a natural part of your routine, and these inexpensive, simple tips will help you maintain a happy, harmonious, and holistic lifestyle.

Many of us give so much to the world as nurturers and maintainers of those around us, that we forget to do the things that help us thrive. We forget simple self-care, and over time experience health challenges, dissatisfaction with life, and resentment in our relationships. Self-care is extremely important in the process of attracting an abundance of positive energy and love – for yourself and for others.

This year let’s make a commitment to love ourselves by practicing self-preservation through self-care. For now, I’ll leave you with this affirmation. Speak it, think it, live it: “My health is my wealth. When I take care of my health it is like depositing money in the bank of Abundant Life!”

Systar Roni Auset is a licensed yoga instructor, healthy living practitioner, holistic educator, and master joyologist! Her aim is to improve her community’s quality of life by promoting a healthy lifestyle. By offering educational workshops, health oriented events, youth productions, and training programs, Systar Roni teaches and encourages holistic health as a way to empower people to make choices that will positively impact their own health and that of their peers, families, and communities. Using the latest information about nutrition and natural living, as well as sharing knowledge about the benefits of physical activity and meditation, she intends to be a strong source of vitality within the community. If  you would like to schedule a workshop/yoga class, participate in the Circle 77 buying club, or support her work with youth,  please visit The Children Shall Lead Them Productions.